Friday, January 18, 2013

Get out of the Boat

Dear readers, this is a combined repost, with an update here in pretty italics. I continue to be inspired by my brothers and sisters in Christ. I. also, continue to despair for them as well. We need to encourage each other, we need, let me reemphasize that WE NEED to encourage each other. When someone is walking out on faith whether they are doing something for their marriage like The Respect Dare or as a parent like All-Pro Dador doing church from home via internet (Save The Cowboy) - encourage them. We don't need the details of someone's walk, we just need to know they are walking. And we need to encourage them. So, inspired by a Dare in The Respect Dare and by my desire to intentionally encourage people (Encourage Sisters) I invite you to enjoy this post, and the poem that goes with it. Bright blessings, Shanyn

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Sailing LessonsA while back I wrote a poem called Get Out of The Boat on my poetry blog.

I am still working on it, this getting out of the boat and walking with Jesus on the water.

It isn't easy. The boat is filled with well meaning people who offer all sorts of seemingly sound advice. They may even offer their prayers. But what they are not offering is a hand to walk out in faith,.

Why? Why?

WHY?

I wish I knew. Maybe their own doubts hold them back and that encourages them to hold everyone else back? Maybe their desire to be safe is greater than their fear of the water?

A friend of mine wrote a book, against a lot of advice from people in her church, advice that would have denied a lot of people access to God's wisdom spoken through her.

A number of acquaintances are seeking to find truth in strange places while they stay safe on the boat. You can, for example, read all the Amish books you want. You can simplify your life. It will not make you Amish. They too, are people seeking God. In their own way. But God`s way for them may not be God`s way for you.

You may try to appear in a certain way. Speaking in a certain fashion, perhaps. This helps you appear wise. Calm. Godly. Passionless. Dead.

SAFE on the BOAT!

Lukewarm on the boat. In the middle rows. Not at the helm, not working the mast. Not on the rudder or rowing. Sitting and watching some fool stepping over the side.

Brothers and sisters...can I ask you for something...

When someone gets out of the boat, even starts talking about it, cheer them on!

Shout some prayers of encouragement!

Remind them to focus on the face of Jesus across the waves.

It isn`t our job to keep them in the boat when God calls them out of it!

I would love to hear your stories of getting out of the boat...share them with us in the comments.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Get Out Of The BoatInspired by Matthew 14:22-33. Please feel free to read before, or after!

Your post and poem were wonderful and a godsend. God was in it and the message was timely for something that I've been struggling with and making excuses for. I am healed and do not need to revisit that place anymore. In truth it's time to step out of the boat. I shared it on my little blog in full with all the proper acknowledgements, then shared it with with my small group family. The ladies really loved it and asked for copies so I directed them to your blog also. See how many people you touch with just a single seed?

Part of my daily quiet time is reading God's Shelter For Your Storm by Sheila Walsh. Today's reading was a confirming one that I am on the right track. "at the moment when we realize we have nothing to give Christ and we fall flat on our faces, we bring the gift He has been asking for all along. That gift is our hearts-not our ideas or skills or preferences. Just ourselves."

Be encouraged yourself for your willingness to be transparent. Thank you.

Donna Marie - bless you! Thank you for sharing your sharing :-) It gave my heart a boost of encouragement today. And thank you for sharing some of your testimony today as well. I'm confident that those reading this will be blessed as I am.